Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya has broken his silence following his release from police custody on Monday, May 19, after a dramatic arrest that sparked public debate and concern.
Salasya, who was apprehended along the Isiolo-Nanyuki Highway on Friday, May 16, emerged visibly shaken from the ordeal, claiming he was treated like a dangerous criminal despite his status as an elected leader guarded by state-assigned officers.
“First of all, I want to condemn the incident because if they are government officers, there should be a procedure for arresting an officer guarded by other officers,” Salasya said moments after securing his freedom.
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The lawmaker had earlier taken to social media to share footage of what he described as a high-speed chase by individuals claiming to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The pursuit, he alleged, ended with gunfire directed at his convoy before he was subdued and taken into custody.
“It can turn out to be dangerous because one can think these are not genuine police officers,” Salasya told reporters. “They came on Friday and decided to shoot at our car. It is by the grace of God that we are alive today.”
The MP criticized the approach used in his arrest, describing it as reckless and unnecessary. “I was arrested like a robber, when in fact, it was only over propaganda allegations. I ask the DCI to ensure proper communication and justification before such actions are taken.”
Salasya was charged with hate speech under the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Act. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed the charges on Monday, stating that the case is linked to inciteful remarks allegedly made on social media.
However, the MP denied the charges, maintaining that multiple fake accounts impersonating him online could have been responsible for the posts in question.
“I have no knowledge of those remarks. Many pseudo accounts exist under my name, and they are being used to mislead the public and the authorities,” he defended.
Following his not guilty plea, Salasya was released on a Ksh 200,000 cash bail or an alternative surety bond of Ksh 400,000. The case is expected to proceed in the coming weeks.